“So what’s the deal with the Victoria’s Secret model?” Alex asked after taking a huge gulp of water.
Eli took a deep breath, already knowing the reaction his next statement would elicit. “I’m bringing her to Jazzy’s party this afternoon. And I told Mama I would bring her for Sunday dinner.”
Alex’s mouth dropped open.
“Don’t look at me like that, man.”
“How do you expect me to react when you tell me you’re bringing some woman to Sunday dinner? That’s serious, E.”
“I know...I.” Eli wasn’t certain whether to confess to Alex, but he needed to confide in somebody. Alex had always been his sounding board. Eli had to make sure he was doing the right thing.
Alex downed half the bottle, then stopped. “Hold up a sec. Something’s not right here. What happened to your rule about never dating doctors?”
“It’s complicated.”
“That does sound serious. Let me finish my water. I don’t want to miss a minute of this.” Alex drank until the plastic bottle was empty then stuffed it in his gym bag and turned to Eli. “Okay, so what’s the deal?”
Eli stretched out one leg and bent the other, resting his arm on his updrawn knee. “I convinced her to pretend to be my girlfriend for the next few months.”
Eli gave him the abbreviated story about the center being in trouble, and Monica’s valiant effort to save it, while also making a good impression on the senior staff. He told his older brother about the conversation he’d had with their mother and how the idea to feign a relationship with Monica first came about.
Alex listened without interruption, something he had always done when playing the part of the confidant for his younger brothers, who always seemed to get into one bind or another. Eli wouldn’t have guessed at thirty-four he would still be looking to unload on Alex.
“I don’t know what to say, man. You’ve got guts to try pulling something like this over Mama’s eyes.”
“What else could I do, Alex? Tosha has been back in town all of two weeks and I’ve seen here more times than in the last fifteen years combined. I needed to do something drastic.”
“Which this definitely is,” Alex agreed. “What about your rule?”
“Mama never paid attention to my rule.”
“Are you crazy? Do you really think Mama wouldn’t have been throwing hints about you hooking up with a doctor all these years if she didn’t know how you felt about it?”
Eli shrugged. “I can say the rule’s been overwritten.”
Alex’s brows arched skeptically. “And we’re supposed to buy that?”
“If you saw Monica Gardner, you would,” Eli clarified.
His brows rose even higher. Alex reached into Eli’s gym bag and grabbed another bottle of water. He uncapped it, took a long pull, then draped the towel over his head. “So, what do you plan to do? You know Mama’s got her heart set on you and Tosha getting back together.”
“I’m hoping it’s not the idea of me with Tosha, just that I’m with someone. I need to convince her that Monica and I are serious about each other.”
Alex nudged him with his knee. “You sure you’re not?”
He shot him an irritated look.
“Hey man,” Alex put his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m just saying. Maybe this shouldn’t be pretend. It’s not as if you couldn’t use a steady relationship.”
Eli lulled his head to the side and stared at his brother. “Just in case you didn’t realize it, you’re the pot,” he drawled with distinct mockery.
“What?”
“You are the pot, calling me, the kettle, black.”
“Don’t start.”
“How are you, a man who hasn’t had sex in God knows how long, gonna sit here and tell me that I could use a steady relationship. Do you even remember what a naked woman looks like?”
“You finished?”
“Are you?”
“Look, E, you’ve passed on enough good, fine women simply because they’re doctors. Not every female with a white coat is Elizabeth Graves.”
“Leave it alone, Alex.”
“All right. I’m finish,” his brother said, dusting off his hands to make his point.
Eli tilted his head back against the fence and closed his eyes. Monica’s image flew to the forefront of his mind. He had visions of thick, luscious hair, the color of deep, dark molasses gliding through his fingers. He could almost feel the soft, baby smooth skin on his fingertips. And those eyes. They had nearly stopped his heart the few chances he’d had to look directly into them.
Man, he was in trouble.
Eli placed his right palm flat on the gritty asphalt and used it to push himself up. He hauled the towel from Alex’s head, along with the one he had used to wipe his face, and stuffed them both back in the black duffel bag. He zipped it up and slung it over his shoulder.
“When’s Toby coming?” Eli asked as he stretched his hand out to help his brother up.
Alex’s strong grip clutched his palm, and he heaved himself off the ground. “Sometime this week, I think.”
“I thought that singer he’s been promoting was debuting in the city tonight?”
“She is, but he couldn’t be sure when he would be able to get away. Some new group he discovered is cutting a demo.”
“Ah, the life of a Quincy Jones wannabe.”
“You never know. Old boy may surprise you one of these days.”
“You can hold your breath if you want to, but I’ll pass.”
They walked out the gate, Eli stepping back to let Alex go first. At the curb, they exchanged pats on the shoulder and took off in different directions, Eli for his Range Rover, Alex for his Ford F-150.
By the time Eli arrived back at the hospital, he only had time to make a short run through the maternity ward before heading home to get ready for plantation hunting.
As he pulled up to the house, his shoulders sunk with relief when he didn’t spot the white BMW in his driveway. He could not keep living like this. He’d paid too much damn money for this house to be afraid to come home to it.
After putting away his basketball gear, Eli went up to his bathroom to take a longer, more thorough shower than the one he’d rushed through at the hospital. He groaned as the hot water pelted his shoulders and back. Eli stood still for a moment, letting the pulsing streams work their magic as they shot out from ten separate jets within the shower walls.
His skin was alive with excitement, but it had nothing to do with the invigorating water spray. No, it was anticipation that had him ready to climb the walls. He was practically salivating at the thought of seeing Monica.
Eli dipped his head under the stream flowing from the brass showerhead and shook it. Man, he had it bad. When was the last time he’d felt this much eagerness for a woman—one who wasn’t even a sure thing?
He would rectify that situation ASAP. He’d decided on the drive home that just because they were pretending to date did not mean they couldn’t engage in a little extracurricular activity. A man would be just plain stupid not to at least try to get a woman like Monica in bed.
Eli smiled at the thought.
It may take more finessing than he usually had to expend, but one way or another, he would have that woman—every soft, luscious, caramel inch of her.
He walked out of the steam-filled shower and wrapped a plush terry cloth towel around his waist.
“Why have you been avoiding me?”
“What the—”
Eli turned to find Alicia Taylor standing in the doorway to his bathroom.
“Alicia!” He placed his hand over his chest in an effort to calm the chaotic pounding of his heart.
Alicia took another step into the bathroom, the clack of her mile-high stilettos echoing loudly on the marble floor.
“How did you get in here?” Eli wrapped the towel more tightly around his hips, tucking the edge in at his waist.
“Why are you doing this, Elijah?”
She took
another step. Eli backed up. A ripple of chilling fear raced along the column of his spine as he took in the look in her eyes.
“Alicia, how did you get in my house?” It was hard to keep his voice calm.
She held out a single key and dropped it to the floor. It hit the hard surface with a loud ping.
Eli’s jaw dropped. She had made a copy of his house key? She really was crazy! “Copying my keys without my permission is illegal, Alicia. I could call the cops on you.”
“But you won’t,” she said with cold finality that did nothing to alleviate the bad feeling running through Eli’s gut. He would have been more comfortable if she were acting a little hysterical. Her cool, unruffled, almost tranquil state raised the hairs on the back of his neck. Only the maladjusted remained unfettered in such situations.
Eli tried to decide if she was crazy enough to have a weapon hidden somewhere underneath the skintight cat suit that clung to her body like a second skin. The sight of her didn’t even arouse him anymore. Psychopaths, no matter how fine they were, just were not enticing.
“I want answers, Elijah. I love you and you pretend it doesn’t matter.” She continued her slow stroll toward him.
“We were together for less than a month, Alicia.”
“Why are you doing this to us?” She’d backed him up until the back of his legs hit the bathroom counter.
How in the hell was he supposed to talk his way out of this?
Eli took a deep breath. He caught Alicia’s forearms in his hands and gave her a firm shake. It was all he could do to keep from strangling her.
“Alicia, go home.”
“Just tell me why you ended it, Elijah. I want answers.”
Eli’s mind fumbled as he tried to think of something to say. He couldn’t come up with a single viable excuse. He couldn’t tell her that he never dated a woman for more than a month.
Once again, he would have to rely on his old, faithful excuse to get him through yet another situation.
“You know I have a very demanding job,” Eli said with sincerity he didn’t feel. “I couldn’t spend as much time with you as you deserved. I was only thinking about you, Alicia. I didn’t think it was fair.”
It was starting to sound like bull even to his own ears. But it did the trick. Alicia’s lips formed a sexy pout, but Eli could tell she had relented. She captured his chin between her thumb and forefinger.
“I knew it had to be something like that. Thanks for being so considerate, but don’t let it concern you. I knew working around your schedule would be tough, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’m willing to take you anyway I can get you.” She leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips. Eli swallowed audibly.
“I’ll see you later,” she whispered, then turned and headed for the door, stopping to pick up the key she had dropped.
Eli stood motionless for several minutes. He did not take a breath until he heard the click of the front door closing behind his uninvited visitor.
“Damn.” His low whisper reverberated off the bathroom walls.
He covered his face with his hands and slumped back onto the vanity. He took several deep breaths, drawing as much air into his lungs as he possibly could. For a second there, when she had him cornered against the bathroom counter, Eli wasn’t sure how many breaths he had left.
What was he going to do?
There was one thing at the top his list. The locks were being changed tomorrow.
He ripped the electric shaver loose on his jaw and neck, splashing on aftershave when he was done. He quickly slipped into his clothes and headed out of the house, cautiously aware that Alicia was probably lurking somewhere nearby.
It was eleven-thirty before Eli pulled onto I-610. He was going to be so late. Another reason to strangle Alicia.
The Louisiana sun was out in full force, turning every surface it touched into a stovetop. Eli cranked the AC up another notch as he maneuvered the wide vehicle through the narrow French Quarter streets. He pulled up to the address Monica had given him.
Eli noted the chipped pale pink paint on the building’s façade. He knew it was considered part of the charm, but to him the French Quarters was nothing but a bunch of old buildings.
He cut the engine and got out of the car, waiting for a produce truck to pass before heading for the building’s front door. Just as he reached for the handle, the wrought iron door opened and Monica stepped out.
Eli had to stop himself from letting out a low whistle. He knew enough about her to know she would take offense. Still, he couldn’t help but stare as she stood before him in an airy sundress.
She was charmingly petite, with slim arms and legs and a perfect all around body. He liked it when a woman was smaller than him. He knew from personal experience that statuesque runway-types were not all they were cracked up to be.
“Good morning,” Monica said.
“Good morning.” Eli walked her around to the passenger side, opened the door and made a sweeping motion with his hand.
“Thank you,” she said as she slid her slim form onto the leather seat.
Eli rounded the front of the car and slid behind the wheel. He checked his mirrors and adjusted the interior temperature controls.
“Is it too cold for you?”
“I’m from St. Louis, remember? I’m used to the cold. This stifling humidity that everyone seems oblivious to is a different story. I don’t know if I can get used to actually feeling the air on my skin.”“
He chuckled. “We’re not oblivious, just used to it. It’s one of the few drawbacks to living down here in the very deep South.”
“That and the drivers.” She sent him a sideways smile.
Eli shook his head. “If it takes standing in the middle of the highway and letting you run me over with your car, I will make up for my past vehicular transgressions.”
“Vehicular transgressions? Is that a new way of saying ‘hit and run’?” she asked, the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth bring a matching grin to Eli’s lips.
“Will you ever let me off the hook?”
“Nope.” The laughter in her voice was contagious. It had been a long time since he’d had the desire to engage in the humorous banter that came naturally whenever he was with Monica. It was comfortable. Effortless.
She reached over and upped the volume on the car stereo. “Who’s this?”
“Some new jazz artist. My brother sent it to me. He’s an aspiring record producer.”
“Really.” She looked impressed.
Eli tried not to roll his eyes. “The great Tobias Holmes. He played ball at St. Johns, was even drafted by the Wizards, but he was in a car accident a few weeks before the pre-season and suffered severe damage to his spine. Even with physical therapy, it was too much to overcome.”
“So he never got the chance to play?” Monica asked.
“Not one professional game.”
“That must have been tough.”
“For any normal person. But Toby is one of those people who are destined to be in the spotlight. When he realized the basketball career was over, he latched onto music.”
They drove along the winding Great River Road that butted against the Mississippi River.
“It doesn’t look like this area was hit as hard by Katrina,” Monica commented as they passed a string of wood-frame houses that would have never withstood the fierce winds of the storm.
“The storm was too far east to cause much damage here. So, what made you choose New Orleans,” Eli asked after some time had passed. “Or, should I ask, what made you leave St. Louis?”
Her expression changed, and Eli knew his question had wandered into None-of-Your-Damn-Business Land. Monica surprised him by actually providing an answer.
“They were cutting back at the hospital, so I got out before they could give me the ax.”
“A doctor with your reputation? I doubt you would have been included in the cuts.”
She shrugged her slim shoulders. “It was time f
or a change. I’d lived in St. Louis most of my life. It seemed like a good time to try somewhere new, and I wanted to help in the recovery effort going on down here.”
“I guess Methodist Memorial lucked out, then.”
She looked over at him with genuine gratitude gleaming in her brown eyes. “Thank you,” she said.
“You’re very welcome,” he answered.
For some unfathomable reason, Eli found himself needing to learn more about her. She was hiding something. He could sense it in the way her body tensed whenever he mentioned anything remotely personal. Monica Gardner had secrets, and nothing turned him on more than a woman with a past.
An inner alarm warned Eli to be careful. Alicia was one of many who had caught him with that seductive, mysterious facade.
Well, that and the whipped cream.
But look where that had gotten him. His heart skipped a terrified beat every time he ran across a white car. It didn’t even have to be a BMW. He needed to leave mystery right where the hell it was—out of his life.
Thankfully, Monica’s head seemed firmly planted on those delicate, softly curved shoulders. Other than this secret Eli suspected she kept hidden, she was about as normal as any other woman he had dated.
No, that was a lie. Normal didn’t do her justice. Normal suggested she was average, and if there was one thing he had learned about Monica Gardner these last few weeks was that she was nowhere near average.
The fact that she was gorgeous was obvious the minute she stepped into a room, but her face was but a small facet of what made her special. Eli saw her true beauty in the soothing touches she shared with frightened patients, the reassurance she imparted to their nervous loved ones. Monica had a calming way about her that beckoned comfort and ease.
As if that wasn’t enough, she hid a killer body under her scrubs. The woman had serious curves. More and more, he felt the desire to explore them.
That was his new goal, to see exactly what she had under those clothes.
Deliver Me Page 11
